Source: Agenzia Fides
The Vicar Apostolic of Jimma Bonga, Ethiopia, Bishop Markos Gebremedhin of the Congregation of the Lazarists, has said that all followers of Christ have been entrusted with the task of protecting and helping children grow.
On the occasion of the official launch of the “Politics for the Protection and Safeguarding of Minors” by the Ethiopian Catholic Church, and the beginning of service for operators in charge of this delicate task, Bishop Gebremedhin highlighted the abuse that many children suffer in the world, including those in Ethiopia.
In a note sent to Agenzia Fides, the Bishop noted that “physical abuse, corporal punishment, child labour, child trafficking, sexual and psychological abuse and lack of awareness among families regarding the right of their children, as the right to growth, to education and medical care” are among the main causes of many psychological traumas that children develop over the years and that often result in suicide.
The Bishop explained that in order to combat this tragic phenomenon, the Ethiopian Episcopal Conference appointed the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat (ECS) to develop a document on the protection of minors to be used as a tool to sensitize Priests, Religious, Teachers, Catechists and Youth Leaders as well as employees of Catholic institutions.
The Catholic Church in Ethiopia is working to ensure the safety, well-being and dignity of children, to satisfy their primary needs and offer them better education. “A special office has been set up at the ECS for the protection of vulnerable children and adults. At the same time a National Advisory Committee was set up with delegates from each ecclesiastical jurisdiction”, Bishop Gebremedhin explained .
On presenting the “Policy for the protection of minors of the Catholic Church” in recent days, the Bishop explained that “as Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia, we considered it our responsibility to prioritise the problem and strengthen the commitment of the Universal Church towards the protection of minors because everyone’s commitment is needed to have a safe environment for vulnerable children and adults”.
